Croydon businesses are being urged to take part in the Business Improvement District (BID) consultation, which is due to start in the new year.
The BID fund will be boosted by raising business rates for some businesses by one per cent.
From this, it is thought that around £1million could be generated, which would then be used to meet the regular cost of cleaning the streets, Christmas lighting and general improvements.
Ros Morgan, manager of BID, said: "It's important for businesses to understand this money is additional to the money that is already spent in the town centre.
"Instead of having to come to them for money for Christmas lighting the fund would be there, we just need people to vote yes in the new year."
The area covered by BID runs from West Croydon station to Coombe Road and from Reeves Corner to Cherry Orchard Road.
The consultation begins in February and all businesses with a rateable value of £40,000 or more are eligible to vote as they will be affected by the one per cent rise in rates.
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